Flu vaccine in a lotion

by ROGER DOBSON , Daily Mail

A rub-on lotion to protect against flu and other viruses is being developed by researchers.

The body cream traps the viruses and kills them before they have time to infect the body cells and organs. Unlike vaccines, which are effective against only one strain of influenza, the lotion is designed to work against all types of flu as well as other viruses.

Vaccines are the frontline treatment for flu prevention, but one of the problems with trying to combat flu with them is that the bug itself is constantly mutating, with new strains appearing annually.

A vaccine works only against the strain used to make that particular type. Someone who is vaccinated against what is considered to be the dominant strain for that particular year will not be protected against other versions.

The researchers behind the development say the anti-flu lotion could used be all the time, or rubbed on whenever flu was endemic, or applied in high-risk, crowded environments such as aeroplanes and crowded trains to protect against cross-infection.

'You could look on it as being used like a sun screen. Something you would put it on when you needed to avoid infection,' says James Baker, professor of medicine at the University of Michigan.

The flu virus works by attaching itself to specific receptors in the body which act like a docking mechanism from which infection is then spread throughout the body.

What Professor Baker has developed is a lotion that provides dummy receptors that the virus is attracted to.

'Essentially, it is a decoy and blocks the virus from binding and penetrating the organs. Instead of attacking cells, the virus binds harmlessly to the cream,' says Professor Baker.

He and his team came up with the lotion while developing materials designed to provide protection against the kinds of viruses and other bugs that may be used in biological warfare weapons.

The first trials could take place within the next 12 months and the researchers say toxicity tests have already shown it is safe for use on skin.